Is it time for Daniel Bell to go in the midfield?

[adsy 135]

With reports that Moloney are out as well as Brock & Col, it appears we are going to be missing some "grunt" in the midfield. The only player that springs to mind with a bit of hardness who could play in the midfield is Bell. No one can question his endeavour or hardness at the footy. He is a solid kid, with good pace, and good skills, when he takes the first option! From memory I thought he was also drafted as a midfielder.

C'mon rev, think outside the square and take a risk. With Ward and Whelan in the team the smalls from the opposition forward line are covered. Who does Freo have anyway without the wiz?

What does everyone else think?

[Demonator 93]

He can go into the midfield for the Zebras - thats about it! The bloke isnt up to AFL standard, lets face it!

[mauriesy 6,883]

He can go into the midfield for the Zebras - thats about it! The bloke isnt up to AFL standard, lets face it!

Where have you been? Bell has been among the (few) best players of the last three weeks. He is developing into a class player and our only rock in the backline.

[adsy 135]

Very harsh mate. He's been playing in the backline the last 3 weeks when we've been completely thumped & I reckon he is one of the few players who can hold is head up high thus far.

[Yze_Magic 3]

Looks like Petterd will debut this week in the backline, so it is possible that Bell will move to the midfield

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

He can go into the midfield for the Zebras - thats about it! The bloke isnt up to AFL standard, lets face it!

Watch some football.

It's no wonder demons fans have a bad name. Not only is Bell up to AFL standard, he's going to be among our best now and in years to come...

[John Dee 439]

Bell has been our best defender for the season thus far. A lot of people have already marked his cards, so, rather than admit their mistake and re-evaluate him they fall back on their mantra.

[Cheap Seats 3,303]

Looks like Petterd will debut this week in the backline, so it is possible that Bell will move to the midfield

Its damn possible, with all the injuries we have we almost have no choice. I hope he does play in the midfield, green to FF and PJ to CHB.

[Gouga 512]

I really don't think PJ at CHB is a viable option. He does not have the speed to go with either Pavlich or Tarrant.

We are better off persuing with Ferguson.

[Nasher 33,182]

Bell is the only bloke in our back line at the moment who isn't causing sieve-like leaks. He has to stay there, he's irreplaceable at present.

[Jarka 767]

I'm with Nasher on this, he's playing soem good footy in the backline, don't tempt fate and play him in another position.

Play to our strengths

[ashleighn19 0]

I'm with Nasher on this, he's playing soem good footy in the backline, don't tempt fate and play him in another position.

Play to our strengths

maybe the way to go is to keep him in the backline, but give him more oppourtinity to use his pace to push up the ground. at the moment (i dont know if anyone notices) he tends to stop at the forward side of the centre square. maybe daniher should tell him to keep running and back himself in! i want to see him kick a goal!

[Gorgoroth 12,369]

he most defiantly could go there but as said he has been the best defender for us, but if petterd playes maybe they could swap of the half back flank

[Nicho 1]

With reports that Moloney are out as well as Brock & Col, it appears we are going to be missing some "grunt" in the midfield. The only player that springs to mind with a bit of hardness who could play in the midfield is Bell. No one can question his endeavour or hardness at the footy. He is a solid kid, with good pace, and good skills, when he takes the first option! From memory I thought he was also drafted as a midfielder.

C'mon rev, think outside the square and take a risk. With Ward and Whelan in the team the smalls from the opposition forward line are covered. Who does Freo have anyway without the wiz?

What does everyone else think?

Yeah we should try this option as well as given out new young Queenslander his first run. but what pisses me off with Daniel Bell so much is that he has explosive pace. (I saw him run a close 2nd to Delidio in a GF sprint a couple years back) So why doesn't he run and carry the ball.... They also need to give show biz his chance. Surely he warrants a game ahead of Wheatley, Godfrey and Brown.

And finally play Johnson ahead of Jamar and Green as a permanent forward or loose man across half back because he is useless in the midfield.

[Nicho 1]

I'm with Nasher on this, he's playing soem good footy in the backline, don't tempt fate and play him in another position.

Play to our strengths

Well out strengths are too strong at the moment.. Belted by Hawthorn, St. Kilda and Geelong all or our beloved MCG..... This game is our only chance of a win in the next month. If we don't win this one brace yourself for a 0-8 start to the year. Hopefully Daniher will fulfill his obligations as a coach and sack himself because the board are too [censored] weak to do it... Stop signing one year wonders up on 2-3-4 year deals... Godfrey, Brown, Wheatley and Daniher should have been gone years ago.

I know we have key injuries but Freo will be out Johnson, Carr, Farmer, Peake and Headland for the game. All incidentally killed us in the corresponding fixture at Subi last year.. Play smart, Freo don't have the professionalism to win matches from behind and will self destruct when the going gets tough.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

So why doesn't he run and carry the ball....

Well first of all, he's been trying, and has succeeded in breaking through groups of opposition numerous times. This is one of his strengths. Secondly, watching him try to run and carry has been like watching a car crash. He's been exposed in this area and I reckon it may even be possible that the coaching department has told him to find his first option by foot at every opportunity, rather than to run and get caught. Yes he has explosive pace, and he seems to enjoy bruising opposition players when he gets the pill, but my goodness can you remember what it was like when he took off, had a bounce and then raised his eyes to look for a leading target? It was hard not to cover your eyes.

I dunno. I'm happy for Bell to be given a go in the guts, but I certainly don't think he has a long-term future there on anything more than a part-time basis. Talking about midfielders isn't exactly my forte, so I'm happy to just go with the flow and hope for the best... who knows? Maybe he can be a good run-with player? At the moment though I'm afraid we may be robbing Peter to pay Paul (or however that old chestnut goes). Our defence isn't exactly knocking it for six at the moment is it?

[Don24 103]

i suggested this last week and got no love for it!

[DemonDave 1,078]

How many goals did Mark Williams get while Bell was on him though? His continued lack of awareness means he'd have no impact in the middle of the ground. While he's shown still more improvement and consistency this year, the half back line is still where he's best suited.

[jacey 333]

i suggested this last week and got no love for it!

U'll still b getting no love.

Bell's pushing hard for Whelan's number one best small defender tag.

Get's lost in traffic. A midfielder needs to be aware 360 degrees around him. Bells got only 180.

[deanox 8,838]

demondave...mark williams kicked 6 goals, 3 or 4 which came from freekicks. and the others didnt all come on bell...wheelan had a stint too. remember that we got smashed across the ground and a quick leading forward with space and good delivery is always going to be dangerous.

bell has been one of our best. he has endeavour and he has class. a combination sorely lacking across the board at the mfc. belly could be a midfielder,. maybe a good one. but i am sick and tired of mfc players being made into something they are not. green and davey should be forwards who maybe rotate into the centre to change match ups, provide spark or pace. they are not midfielders. bell is playing good footy in the backline. and i would like to see him stay there for a while and let his form continue. lets not muck around with him just yet.

something to remember about bell is that he is from country SA and had limited formal coaching until he was drafted by the dees. before that he played on natural instincts and skills so the learning process is different from a kid who has played rep footy since he was 12.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

How many goals did Mark Williams get while Bell was on him though?

Not many. He only played on him late, and one of those goals was kicked when he was holding his nose in place and walking off the field (not before turning to see if he could pick up a touch mind you).

Is that right? I could have that wrong...

[deanox 8,838]

sounds bout right to me dappa dan...

[Lord Travis 10,298]

How many goals did Mark Williams get while Bell was on him though?

1.

Kicked 4 on Whelan, 1 on Bell, and 1 when Bell was coming from the ground injured and he had no opponent and thus got handed a freebie. Bell shut him down, as he has shut down every player he has played on this year. He has been our rock in defence this year, taking over from Whelan who has been uncharacteristically sloppy. We cant afford to push Bell up into the midfield at this stage. The backlines already missing Rivers, Whelans been average, and the rest have been poor. Take Bell away, and you've got a likely backline of Carroll (having a poor year), Whelan, Ward, Brown, Wheatley, Holland. Doesnt exactly inspire does it

I think Bell could well play midfield in the future, but only in a part time role.

[jacey 333]

I think Bell could well play midfield in the future, but only in a part time role.

whelan was tried as a midfielder earlier in his career n failed miserably. Bell's being tried there n has failed miserably. Some ppl just can't play whilst being in the thick of it. I'm happy for him being a stopper/defender n running out of defence.

[Weedster 174]

Where have you been? Bell has been among the (few) best players of the last three weeks. He is developing into a class player and our only rock in the backline.

I wouldn't get too carried away - it's not that he doesn't try cos he does - always - but he lacks awareness and makes some awful mistakes..